Heironymus Merkin is an internationally successful singer approaching middle age who retells his life story in a series of production numbers on a seashore in front of his two toddlers and aged mother. Merkin's promiscuous relationships with women are explored, particularly Polyester Poontang and the adolescent Mercy Humppe. Merkin is constantly surrounded by a Satan-like procurer, Goodtime Eddie Filth, and an angelic 'Presence' who interrupts Merkin's biography with cryptic Borscht Belt-level jokes to denote births and deaths in Merkin's life. Newley periodically steps out of character to complain about his 'Merkin' role with an unseen director, two screenwriters, the film's producers and a trio of blasé movie critics who are turned off by the story's eroticism and lack of plot.
Direction
Newley directing himself complaining about himself—pure narcissistic cinema.
Writing
Screenwriters appear as characters who hate the screenplay.
Director
Anthony Newley
Anthony Newley
Heironymous Merkin
Joan Collins
Polyester Poontang
Bruce Forsyth
Uncle Limelight
Milton Berle
Goodtime Eddie Filth
Stubby Kaye
Fat Writer
George Jessel
The Presence
Connie Kreski
Mercy Humppe
Patricia Hayes
Grandma
Louis Negin
Producer Peter
Tom Stern
Producer Ron
Judy Cornwell
Filigree Fondle
Margaret Nolan
Little Assistance
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Anthony Newley's directorial debut, co-written with Herman Raucher while Newley was married to Joan Collins—who plays Polyester Poontang, a character based on his affairs. The autobiographical incest is the entire point.
The film was rated X in the UK and bombed everywhere. Newley never directed again. The 'Merkin' of the title is also a pubic wig, which everyone pretended not to notice.
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